A CAREER that spanned five decades has to have a some low points, but Colin Harvey only really has one regret.

ONCE A BLUE: Colin Harvey (front row far left) has been an Evertonian since his school days>

A CAREER that spanned five decades has to have a some low points, but Colin Harvey only really has one regret.

As a boyhood Evertonian, he knew that the fans craved success. Yet as manager of his beloved Blues, he failed to bring silverware back to Goodison.

"It was the most frustrating and disappointing thing for me," he explained. "I wanted to win trophies because I knew that is what the fans wanted, but we didn't do it.

"I had always been involved with winning teams as a player and as a coach with Howard Kendall. To win something as manager of the club would have put the icing on the cake.

"We came close a few times, reaching an FA Cup final and the semi-final of the Littlewoods Cup, but it was not quite good enough."

Harvey had a tough act to follow when he took over the Goodison hot-seat in June 1987 after Kendall left for Athletic Bilbao.

Kendall, his close friend and former team-mate, had established himself as Everton's most successful manager, but Harvey was undaunted.

"I wanted to ensure the continuity was there," he said, "but as a manger you live and die by results and at the time mine were not good enough. It was the only time in my career I did not win things."

His reign, plagued by injuries to key players, was brought to an end in late 1990. Harvey understands why the board recalled Kendall and he bears no grudge.

So after his own stretch as a manager, what does he think of David Moyes.

"He took on a job-and-a-half and has done a fantastic job on a limited budget," Harvey said. "With his dedication and knowledge, he will not go far wrong. I didn't have direct dealings with David, but during the times I spent with him his enthusiasm really came through.

"Given the right tools and money to spend, he won't want to move from the club until he has won something."

Harvey's judgement carries weight, for in Harry Catterick and Kendall he has worked with the best. Indeed, when quizzed about who was the better manager, it is a close call.

"I would pick Howard. Winning a European trophy just edges it. Howard had great man-management skills. We gelled as players and continued from there when we became manager and coach.

"Harry was from the old-school of management. He governed the whole club. I knew that if I put in 100 per cent he would appreciate it. I remember him once say that although I did not have a good game I gave 100 per cent - but my 100 per cent was not good enough."

So what does the current Everton manager think of Harvey's contribution?

Moyes said: "When I came here Colin was a big help to me. He was very experienced. I understood exactly why people talk so much about Colin. We used to talk a lot after training. He was a wealth of experience. I'm sorry he has gone."